ARL BRUSSELS TALK 2026

Regional expansion of onshore wind power under RED III
Striking a balance between biodiversity protection and accelerated growth targets

Date: 14 April 2026
Time: 11:30 am to 02:00 pm CET
Venue: Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg to the EU,
Rue Belliard 60 – 62, 1040 Brussels

Registration: https://pro.formcloud.de/formcycle/form/provide/23209/

The ARL – Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association and our member organisation Stuttgart Region invite METREX Members to join this timely event on the regional expansion of onshore wind power under RED III.

The discussion will focus on one of the key challenges facing European regions today: how to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy while safeguarding biodiversity, environmental quality, and meaningful public participation. As Member States work to implement RED III and identify suitable areas for renewable energy development, spatial planning has a crucial role to play in balancing speed with social and environmental responsibility.

Bringing together experts and stakeholders from science, administration, and policy, the event will offer a valuable platform to exchange experiences, compare implementation approaches across countries, and reflect on current challenges and opportunities. Particular attention will be given to regional perspectives and to the experiences of Germany and the Netherlands.

AGENDA

11:30 | Registration
12:00 | Opening with Bodo Lehmann (Head at Representation of Baden-Württemberg to the EU)
12:05 | Welcome with Axel Priebs (President of the ARL)
12:10 | Aims and objectives of the RED III Directive with Marta Andres Vaquero (Legal and Policy Officer at Unit C1 (Renewables and Energy System Integration Policy) of DG ENER)

12:25 | Comparative approach to the designation of RAA in different EU countries with Flore Belin (Renewable Energy Policy Coordinator at Climate Action Network Europe)
12:40 | Designation of RAA in the Stuttgart Region with Thomas Kiwitt (Technical Director at Stuttgart Region Association)
12:55 | Bottom-up approach of RAA in North-Holland with Pierre Kas (Policy Advisor Energy Transition, Province of North-Holland)
13:10 | Panel discussion
13:30 | Networking Lunch

The Programme in PDF is available for download here

For any questions and further information, please contact:
Dr. Britta Bockhorn (Head of International Affairs) Phone: +49 511 34842-25 britta.bockhorn@arl-net.de